COMBINED COLLEGES HAVE MIXED FORTUNES

The GCA Senior league got under way on Saturday with victories for Calpe CC and GCCbwin over Mediterranean CC and Combined Colleges respectively. Calpe’s win at the Victoria Stadium was a relatively comfortable one against a depleted Mediterranean side, but the match at Europa turned out to be an exciting contest which went right down to the wire.

Fine Combined Colleges opening stand.

Combined Colleges won the toss, chose to occupy the crease first, and Chris Harris and Cliff Knezovich proceeded to treat the GCCbwin attack with scant respect putting on 120 runs in the opening twenty overs without being parted. The mid-innings break saw a change of fortunes as Rudi Phillips struck twice in the 21st. over to dispose of Knezovich (82) and Nushan Alwis for a duck and when three further wickets tumbled for the addition of just 38 runs, the Combined Colleges innings seemed in threat of collapse. However, Harris was still there and in Mick Berger he found a worthwhile partner, their partnership being worth 54 runs, as the side finished on 216/5, with Harris on 64 and Berger on 32. For GCCbwin, there were two wickets apiece for Charlie Harrison and Phillips.

Nail biting finish.

GCCbwin looked down and out as they lost their first four wickets with only 76 runs on the board. Steven Gonzalez and Chris Allan then pulled the game their side’s way with a fifth wicket stand of 73, before the former was bowled when five short of his century. Allan continued to hold the fort but wickets continued to tumble around him, and when he went for 34, well caught on the mid-wicket boundary the match appeared to have slipped away from his side’s grasp. As the last batsman, Paul Grant, walked to the crease to join Harrison, GCCbwin still required nineteen runs with four overs left, and there were some anxious faces in the pavilion. Against all the odds, Harrison managed to hit thirteen runs which, together with some unforgivable wides brought victory home with one over to spare. GCCbwin took fifteen points from the game to Combined Colleges’ eight.

Next week.

The Senior League continues in full swing next Saturday, with Combined Colleges taking no Mediterranean CC at the Victoria Stadium, and GCCbwin facing Calpe CC at Europa. Both matches are scheduled to start at 11.00am.

GCCbwin and Combined Colleges CC emerged victorious on Saturday against Calpe CC and Mediterranean CC respectively. Highlights of the week-end were centuries for Kieron Ferrary and Christian Rocca of GCCbwin, a fighting response from Calpe CC, and a nail biting finish in the Combined Colleges-Mediterranean clash.

Close contest at the Stadium.

The clash between Mediterranean CC and Combined Colleges at the Victoria Stadium turned out to be a close affair. The former won the toss, opted to bat first, and were given an excellent start by Sam Russell and Chris Watkins, who put on 117 runs for the opening wicket in just 18 overs. The stand was finally broken by Nushan Alwis who bowled Russell when the batsman was eight runs short of his half century and at the twenty overs stage the Mediterranean total stood at a healthy 123/1. Soon afterward, Ashan Alwis struck three times in rapid succession to account for Watkins [74], Josh Hatcher and Steve Cary and Mediterranean seemed in danger of failing to capitalise on their excellent start. Ross Harkins and Steve Martin then staged a partial recovery with a fifth wicket stand of 56, but the dismissal of the former for 39 heralded a remarkable collapse as four wickets tumbled for the addition of only nine runs. Martin remained undefeated on 22 in a final total of 232/9. For Combined Colleges, Ashan Alwis returned figures of 3/39.

Mediterranean CC seemed well on the way to a comfortable victory as their opponents lost four wickets with only 81 runs on the board. Opener Adam Winter, however, was batting well at one end and in Paul Harris he finally found a worthy partner as these two added 72 runs for the fifth wicket before Cary accounted for Winter who was then on 43. The innings momentum continued as Chris Harris joined his brother and these two brought victory closer and closer with a partnership of 72. In the 39th. over and with five runs required for victory Russell held on to a return catch to account for Chris Harris [49], and Watkins bowled Mark Ward with the first ball of the 40th. over. Watkins then bowled a wide which went for two and this brought Paul Harris to the receiving end. He promptly hit the next ball for three and his side were home with four balls to spare.